Therapy in Irvine, CA | Counselor Karla Hernández 

If you are a mother in Irvine who has everything on paper and still cannot shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong, I want you to hear this: what you are feeling is real, and you deserve support for it. I am Karla Hernandez, a perinatal and postpartum therapist, and I work with mothers navigating postpartum anxiety, depression, identity loss, and the emotional weight that no amount of preparation fully prepares you for.


Irvine is one of the most planned and highly resourced cities in the country, a place where neighborhoods like Woodbridge, Northpark, Turtle Rock, and Stonegate are designed around family life, with excellent schools, parks, and community amenities at every turn. It is also a city with enormous pressure to perform, as a parent, as a professional, as a partner, as someone who should have it together in a place this well-designed for success. 


Postpartum does not care how well-resourced your neighborhood is. It does not care that you have a beautiful nursery and a supportive partner and a meal delivery subscription. It arrives anyway. And in a city that values achievement, the experience of struggling after birth can feel especially isolating.Mothers in Irvine often come to me after months of convincing themselves they should be grateful, that they have no reason to feel this way. That is exactly why they need a space where they can stop managing the narrative and just tell the truth. I offer virtual therapy for mothers throughout Orange County and across California.

How it works

01

Book a consultation call

This is therapy that honors the whole you not just the mom, the partner, or the caretaker. I’m here for the woman underneath all of that the one who needs care, too.

02

Let’s meet where you are

 I offer virtual therapy to make things easier. You don’t need to find a sitter or put on a fresh face to get support. Show up in your reality, however messy it feels that’s enough.

03

Start healing and thriving in your motherhood

 Whether you’re quietly falling apart or numbing just to get through the day, we’ll slow down and begin to untangle what’s really going on together, at your pace.

Explore our therapy services and specializations

Perinatal and postpartum therapy

Motherhood changes you and not always in the ways you expected. I support women at every stage, from pregnancy through the early years, as they navigate identity shifts, emotional overwhelm, and invisible labor.

Postpartum depression

It’s not just sadness. It’s feeling flat, disconnected, or like you’re going through the motions. If you’re stuck in the fog, I’ll help you find language for what you’re feeling and a path forward.

Pregnancy therapy

Pregnancy can be filled with contradictions joy and dread, gratitude and fear. I provide space to process the emotional complexity of it all, without needing to put on a brave face.

Postpartum anxiety

Constant checking. Racing thoughts. That feeling like something could go wrong at any moment. If your nervous system feels stuck in high alert, I’ll help you find grounding again.

Postpartum PTSD

Sometimes birth or postpartum can feel traumatic in ways that are hard to explain. If you're avoiding your story or feel triggered by memories, I offer trauma-informed care for deep emotional repair.

Birth trauma

Even if you “did everything right,” your birth may still feel unresolved. I create space to process your story, validate your experience, and begin the healing work your body and heart are asking for.

Pregnancy loss

Loss doesn’t always get acknowledged the way it should. Whether you’re grieving a miscarriage, stillbirth, or another form of pregnancy loss, I’ll sit with you in it with zero pressure to “move on.”

Postpartum rage

You weren’t prepared for how angry you’d feel. Maybe you’re yelling more than you’d like, or your body reacts before your mind can catch up. Postpartum rage therapy offers a non-judgmental space to understand these responses and gently work through them. You deserve support that sees the full picture of your motherhood.

I serve women in Irvine and across Orange County

I support moms across Irvine from Woodbridge and Turtle Rock to Cypress Village and Northwood and throughout surrounding areas like Tustin, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo. Whether you're working full-time, staying at home, or trying to juggle both, you deserve a space that centers your needs. My virtual therapy makes support accessible no matter what your day looks like.

Testimonials

Karla is a great clinician with years of experience. Her trauma focus highlights every aspect of her work with mothers in perinatal and postnatal work as well as the LatinX community. She deeply cares for her clients growth and is supportive in their healing work. She is a highly skilled and trained clinician mastering the art of using evidence based practices whilst also considering individual perspectives. 

Yeniss Paez, LCSW

I’ve had the honor and privilege of working side by side with Karla Hernandez. Getting to know her has been such an honor. She is committed to helping her clients with a nonjudgmental approach, working through trauma of all kinds. Being a birth doula I know how important it is, speaking with someone to improve material outcomes. Karla is key and is committed to helping her clients overcome trauma and grow.

Michelle Wilkerson, Birth and Postpartum Doula

Karla is a compassionate and dedicated maternal mental health therapist. She has worked diligently with clients in all paths of life and thrives particularly working with mothers. If you are looking for a therapist that understands the unique needs women face navigating the postpartum period and beyond, she is your go to resource. 

Priscilla Gomez, LCSW

Hi, I’m Karla Michele Hernandez, postpartum therapist in Irvine, CA

I started Alma de Madre after navigating my own messy, unraveling version of motherhood. I know what it’s like to love your baby deeply and still feel overwhelmed, numb, or lost in the process. Now, I help women like you stop performing and start healing. You don’t need to earn rest, support, or gentleness. You already deserve it. Let’s begin.

A person with long dark hair sits on a beige couch, wearing a neutral top and pants, writing in an open notebook.

Frequently asked questions

  • Insurance & Payment Information

    I accept Cigna and Aetna insurance.


    I also take out of network/self pay at my private pay rate. I currently partner with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy session though out of network benefits. 


    See if you qualify:

    https://mentaya.co/checkbenefits/karlahernandez 


    Payments can be made through credit card and debit card, including FSA and HSA debit cards.

  • Cancellation Policy

    I understand that life happens—especially in motherhood. However, to respect both my time and other clients who may need an appointment, I require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling.

    Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the appointment will be subject to the full session fee.


    If you miss a session without notice (no-show), you will be responsible for the full cost of the session.


    Exceptions may be made in cases of emergencies, but please reach out as soon as possible if you need to reschedule.

    If you need to cancel or reschedule, you can do so by contacting me via karla@almademadre.com or my phone number 562-457-0466


  • Good Faith Estimate

    You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

       

    Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

       

    You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

       

    Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

       

    If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

       

    Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

       

    For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059